During a recent Senate hearing, Top DEA Pick Mr.Terrance Cole made a bold and surprising statement. He said that a large part of Mexico is heavily influenced or even controlled by drug cartels.
He explained that during his time working in Mexico City with the DEA, he saw firsthand how powerful and organized the cartels were. One of the biggest, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was said to have had influence in 24 of Mexico’s 32 states.
When asked directly if the Mexican government and cartels work together, the nominee didn’t hesitate. He replied, “They work hand in hand.” This statement drew strong reactions from U.S. lawmakers, some of whom were surprised or concerned. One senator even called it a serious accusation and asked for proof.
The nominee explained that court cases show cartel collusion, including one where a former top security official in Mexico was sentenced to 38 years in a U.S. prison for accepting bribes from drug cartels. He also pointed to a long history of Mexican military and police forces being linked to cartel operations.
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The nominee’s comments could add strain to an already tense relationship between the United States and Mexico. In the past, Mexican leaders have firmly rejected claims that their country is controlled by criminals.
Mexico’s president recently reminded American leaders that the U.S. also has problems and should look inwards before placing blame. She pointed out that while drugs might enter the U.S. from Mexico, Americans are the ones buying and using them.
A few U.S. lawmakers are pushing to hold American gun companies responsible for the flow of firearms into Mexico. These weapons are often used in violent crimes. Mexico even sued several gun manufacturers in 2022, claiming their products ended up in the hands of criminals.
The nominee also mentioned recent efforts to clean up Mexico’s security forces. He spoke positively about Mexico’s new public safety leader, who previously survived a violent attack by cartel members. He said this shows there may be a serious attempt in Mexico to fight back against organized crime, but the problem remains large and dangerous.
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The nominee explained that one of the biggest drug problems facing the U.S. today is fentanyl, a powerful and deadly drug. According to him, about 300 Americans are dying every day from overdoses, and many people still don’t understand how dangerous fentanyl is. He said more needs to be done to educate young people and parents about these risks.
He also highlighted how drugs are made in Mexico using chemicals that come from other countries. He said that many of these chemicals come from China and that people working with Chinese crime groups have been found in areas controlled by major Mexican cartels.
During the hearing, the nominee was asked about two past cases involving violent attacks in Colombia and Mexico. In both cases, there were reports that shared intelligence may have reached the wrong hands and led to the deaths of innocent people and police officers.
He firmly denied having any role in those events. Regarding the Colombian case in 2006, he said the DEA wasn’t involved and that the operation was handled fully by Colombian police. In the Mexican case from 2011, where many civilians were killed by a cartel, he said he did not directly share any information and followed all DEA rules.
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The nominee also pointed out that the two cartel leaders blamed for the 2011 massacre were recently sent to the U.S. by Mexico, where they are now in custody.
